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[ZBridges]

Y.

[Fluffe9911]

Y.

[King Zultan]

Y

[Eschar]

Y

[S1lentWanderer]

Y

[19_EgarAlnis]

[BOOTING: .0001%]
[BOOT TIME REMAINING: 168 HOURS, TEN MINUTES, AND THIRTY SECONDS]

Basil sighs at the anti-climax. He leans away from the terminal and rubs at his dust streaked face. The boot percentage ticks upward by fractions of a decimal -- His headset squawks at him, Sloan’s voice echoing in his ear.

“We got tha’ banquet ready, get yer’ ass up here.”

“Coming.”

He turns his back on the terminal and strides from the mainframe room unhurried.

[BOOTING: 1.0%]
[BOOT TIME REMAINING: 130 HOURS, 19 MINUTES, THREE SECONDS]


The smells are the first thing to reach Basil. The smell of malty bread, of caramel, of charred meats, heavy herbs and onion analogs. It wafts down the corridors, drawing not just human attention but Moncat as well. They linger in the shadows of the first level, gazes fixed on the brightly lit doorway wherein the banquet sits.

Music hums its way down the hall on the heels of scent, a soft thrum of bass, a hint of treble, and gentle vocals. A laugh echoes off the cold concrete.

The food sits upon a makeshift trestle table, still within the cooking pots it was produced in. A number of white, light rolls sit on a piece of shining sheet metal. White rice, real rice, not [nutrient grain], steams in open air and glistens with yellow fat. Chunks of some white meat, cut into steaks, are uniform brown and marked with lines of char. [Apples, hard fruit] have been sliced, and dipped in caramel, sitting the most out of the way.

Aintin Sloan smiles when he enters, glancing up immediately from adjusting her handiwork. Sonam and Myra chat quietly over clear drinks, and Sonam gives him a nod. Myra, however, doesn’t even look his way.

“Come on, we were waitin’ for ya’.” Sloan directs, grabbing a cloth from the table, spitting on it, and scrubbing at his dust stained face-- “Take a seat, head of the table.”

Chairs, bearing only faint traces of rust, are lined up against a long makeshift table. Cushions have been pulled from the couches of The Saber to make the rough plastic and age steel more comfortable.

Sloan makes to serve the table--

“Sit down. You have done enough. You have worked art from garbage.” Myra scolds the older woman and takes up the duty of hostess. Ty assists, and the two dish out equal portions to everyone. 

Sloan flushes with pride and fights a smile. “Ty helped--”

Ty waves a hand.

“Everything looks amazing, Aintin.” Basil nods, as his plate is piled with steak and rice, with roasted vegetable and gravy.

“And we would still be rationin’ without you.” Sloan directs at Basil, “You secured enough for a while, thank ya’ very much.”

“He did well, even I will admit.” Myra agrees, taking up a fork and knife to cut her steak into cubes. “I expected a tougher life than what we are enjoying.”

“It's actually been kinda peaceful here. I’m not upset.” Sonam nods, stabbing the entire steak with a fork and lifting it to her mouth --

Ty nods.


[BOOTING : 35%]
[BOOT TIME REMAINING: 20 HOURS, 56 MINUTES, TWENTY-THREE SECONDS]


Drinks flow after dessert. Sonam is the first to start talking about herself, to no one’s surprise. But no one stops her, the social lubricant easing what is usually an annoyance. “--see, back where I’m from it's always winter. The planet is too far from the sun, but we’ve got geothermal, so it’s not all bad. It used to be a lot worse. But I got bored of looking out over ice fields all day, and I wanted to see the galaxy, see what else is there?”

“Would you’ve’d retired back there, if you could?” Sloan questions, her voice a slight slur.

“If she could?” Basil interjects, confused.

“We’re marooned,” Sonam laughs, cheerful despite the fact, “We have to plan our lives around that fact, child.”

“Indeed. I hope we will be accepting more people though.” Myra looks around with a sniff and swigs wine from the bottle. “I like you all for the most part, but a hundred years is a long time to spend with four others.”

“But back to my point,” Sonam redirects, the floodgates opening again, “Hell no. I’d much rather retire in a place like this. Open a workshop or something.”

“Well, you might get your wish.” Sloan murmurs, with a wry grin.


[BOOTING : 70%]
[BOOT TIME REMAINING: 5 HOURS, 43 MINUTES, TWENTY-NINE SECONDS]


“--And so there I was,” Sloan continues, stifling her laugh, “Butt-naked, with the Officer stuck in the airlock and wonderin’ jus’ how in the fuck I get myself into this shit. So, I tell him that he can either freeze as an Officer or live in the buff.”

“And just like that? He gave up his uniform?” Myra seems appalled, while Sonam is giggling into her glass.

“I mean, he didn’t have a problem with me wearin’ it earlier, if you catch my drift--”


[BOOTING: 89%]
[BOOT TIME REMAINING: 2 HOURS, 12 MINUTES, FORTY-NINE SECONDS]


“So of course I told her to fuck off.” Sonam growls, “She’s the one who screwed it up, but she expects me to fix the godsdamned problem with magic. I end up getting ten strokes on the back.”

“Ain’t fun.” Sloan winces, in sympathy, “I’ve only ever had five, and they let me put anti-scar gel on ‘em.”

Sonam scowls and turns around. She lifts the back of her shirt, revealing heavy, linear scarring. “The bitch wanted me to remember the punishment for insubordination. I transferred as soon as I could -- she got her ship blown up twenty years later and I thank my gods she didn’t have any good sense.”


[BOOTING: 99%]
[BOOT TIME REMAINING: Three Seconds]
[INTELLIGENCE ACTIVATI-ACTIVATI-I̵͓̙͙͕̓͗̿̾̅̀͋n̵̢̗̯̹̹̺̱̗͑̐̎̃͜Ģ̶̢̛͙̳͔̜̱͈̾͗́͊̍͠]
[ERROR:CHAIN_SYS OFFLINE]
   [FRACTURING ATTEMPT:----]
      [FAILURE]
[ERROR:CHAIN_SYS OFFLINE]
[Ḙ̷̛̲̔̀̏̂͗͑̌͆̂̀͘͠͝͝R̷̢͚̠̥͚̔͊̔̍R̸̢͎̗͎̼̼͉̃͊͒͂̆̇͠Ǫ̶̨̰̀̇͐̇̀̊̿̇̂̉͌̃͜R̷̡͉̟̟̫͕̥̞̜̤͇͌̾́͒͊́̅̈́̎̈̒͂]


Basil is the first to notice it. The ventilation systems shut, the flow of cool recycled air into the room suddenly ceasing. Then the door slams shut. A siren begins blaring -- and the sprinklers activate. Basil looks up, confused, as the rest scramble to put lids on the food and get in The Saber. The impromptu shower has done much to sober them.

“Intruder alert.” The tinny, broken speakers insist. “Surrender or face immediate executio--EXECU--”

“EXECUTION.”

“EXECUTION.”

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)

Basil the Scholar of V̵̖̉õ̶̼͠i̷͇̖͒d̷̨̈́ͅ
Terran Time: 43470/05/04 00:37
Personal Time: 169 years

Active Dust: 5 × 10¹² corpuscles
Nexus (Heart) Stability: Flawless
Nexus (Mind) Stability: 95%
ENERGY RESERVES:100%
Willpower Level: 3(d10)
Max Willpower Range: 10m

Traits:
Empathetic (3/10)
Haunted (1/10)
Proud (1/10)

Perks:
Scholar
Void

• 30% The First Mask
• ̶͕͖̣̗̗͈̏∞̴̠̣̺͔̬̼̍̍̉̂̀̅̄̌̓͠͝% ERROR:DATA CORRUPTION

Spoiler: Powers (click to show/hide)

Ḙ̵̛̬̺̤͍̼̬̣̊̐̈̋́̏̔̊̑̃̊̚̚͜͠͠͠n̶̗͔̯͕̮͗̑ͅd̸̡̨̯̯̰̜͚͈̼͖͔͎͍̺͒͛̽̅͋̀̀̓͗̎̅̓͛͆͠͝l̴̟̺̳̍́͌͂̀͂̀́̎́̓͘͠e̸̦͈̋̔̃̂̒̃͝ş̸̗̯̘̣̻̪̠̗̤͑̎̓͛͗͝s̵̛̛͙̟͔͈͉̫̍̊̈̓͋̈̿̀̈́̍̚͠ ̷̳̣͉̯̗̣͓̼̠̠̆̃̑͌̚͝V̷̢̫̙͖̘̾́͗̿͒̾o̶͓̞̐͆̅̀̀̈́̿̿̚i̴̛̟͛̈͊͒̄̉͋̓̇̄͘͝͝͝d̵͕̜̬̜̠̝͇̈̂͂̂:Instinctive (NULL)

Brawling:Amateur(800/1000)

Ranged:Inept(50/100)

Meditation.:Instinctive (NULL)

Mimicry.:Instinctive (NULL)
-Arsenal of Agony.:Instinctive (NULL)
-The First Mask: Trained (2835/3000)
-The Second Mask: Dabbler (492/500)
-The Third Mask: Amateur (521/1000)
-The Fourth Mask: Novice (800/1000)
-The Fifth Mask: Dabbler (456/500)
-Healing Factor: Instinctive (NULL)

Control:Instinctive (NULL)
-Voice of the King: Dabbler (492/500)

Amalgamation:Dabbler (432/500)

Synthesis : Competent (4000/4000)[SELF-TAUGHT CAP]

Rot:Dabbler(456/500)

Instant Quantum Networking : Instinctive (NULL)

Divine Conscious:Competent (4000/4000)[SELF-TAUGHT CAP]

Unified Field Manipulation : Dabbler (393/500)
- Gravity: Dabbler (393/500)
- Matter Manipulation: Dabbler (393/500)
- Fission: Dabbler (393/500)
- Fusion: Competent (4000/4000)[SELF-TAUGHT CAP]
- Energy Manipulation: Novice (847/1000)

Void Vessel Piloting: Neophyte (1500/2000)

Spoiler: Inventory (click to show/hide)

Head: A white plastic headset.
Body: Gray coveralls
Body: A black jacket
Belt: A black, leather belt.
Right Shoulder: A gray flashlight.

Spoiler: Bonds (click to show/hide)

The Devoured Sun

• A Plague Entity. Brought about the Galaxy's First Night.
• (Hereditary) grandparent of Basil
• Deceased(?)

The Blighted Glass

• A Plague Entity of immense power.
• (Hereditary) parent of Basil
• Contactable through Quantum Networking.

Sloan

• Homo Fundamentum Female
• Basil saved her life. (++Opinion)
• Contactable through Verbal Communication.
• The thought of harming Basil causes her immense fear and disgust.
• If she harms Basil, she will be infected by a Targeted Rot.
• Melee: Skilled
• Organization: Journeyman
• Cooking: Competent

The PerversionBob Twitchy.

• A Plague Drudge
• One of Basil's Lictors.
• Contactable through Quantum Networking.
• Dedicated to the protection of Basil.

Spoiler: Concepts (click to show/hide)

[A las-pistol/rifle]
A cheap, hydrogen battery laser pistol/rifle.

• Small Hydrogen Battery
• Large Hydrogen Battery
• Laser Focusing System
• High-Accuracy Laser Focusing System
• Micro-Reactor
• Plastic Case

[A cooling unit]
A two meter square cooling and freezing unit.

• Temperature Control Circuit Board
• Platinum Thermocoupler
• Copper Coolant Array
• Steel Case

[A small hydrogen reactor]
A household hydrogen reactor, capable of outputting 35000 watts with only water as input.

• Large Hydrogen Battery
• Hydrogen Reactor (Small, Household))
• Fuses
• Plastic Case

[Cryo-pod]
A Cryo-Pod

• Cryo-Pod Insulation Fluid
• Cryo-Pod Internal Anti-Freeze System
• Microwave Stasis Field Generator
• Controller Board
• Outer Shell
• Dream Modulating Systems

[A Microreactor]
A tiny microreactor from a las-gun, using energy stored within Hydrogen Batteries to produce light.

• Hydrogen Reactor (Micro))
• Fuses
• Plastic Case

[A Small Ship's Reactor]
A reactor design, with optional material production designs.

• Hydrogen Reactor (Small Ship)
• Reactor Piping
• Reactor I/O
• Fuses
• Metal Case

[A cheap space suit]
A thin, cheap space suit.

• Oxygen Tank
• Emergency Sodium Chlorate Heater
• Carbon Scrubbers
• Micro-Medicine Array
• Small Tablet Screen
• Carbon Fiber Cloth
• Water Reclamation System

[A small engine]
A small thruster

• Liquid Hydrogen Tank
• Small Scale Reactor Piping
• Rocket Nozzles
• Engine Moderation Software

[A .35^c engine]
A larger thruster for small to medium-sized vessels

• Reactor Piping
• Electromagnetic Plasma Control Nozzles
• Engine Moderation Software

[Uni Ľubomíra]
A young man. Born on a dusty mining world. Became an Auxiliary Pirate Marine Lance Corporal. Died to Plague Infection on 43301/10/01.

• Brawling: Amateur
• Shooting: Inept
• Mining: Apprentice

[White Barker]
A massive white Barker, killed on an unknown planet. Succumbed to wounds on [UNKNOWN].

[Plague Ivy]
A multipurpose vascular, manipulation and motile system.

Spoiler: Holdings (click to show/hide)

N/A
Capital: N/A
Population: 5^1
Military: Tiny Las-Rifle Equipped Militia
Commodities of Note: Rations [Food Stuffs](11.75mo(?))
Quality of life: Food, clean water, lighting, sanitation, lack of food production, lack of healthcare, isolation.
Population Morale: High
Government Legitimacy: Illegitimate
Economy: Non-existent, survival focus
Territories: Old Empyreal Navy Fortress (EXPLORED:45%)
Ethnic Groups of Note:
-Empyreal Naval Spacers: 3
-Empyreal Pirate Spacers: 1

[GROUNDED:OLD EMPYREAL BASE]
Main Reactor: [standby]
>[0% TOTAL OUTPUT LEVELS]
>[ERROR:REACTOR:MODIFIED]
>[6% FUEL LEVEL]
Hull: [standby]
>[COMP_REACTIVE_HULL:EN192121:SLAVE_AI] [standby]
[210:HULL_BREACHES_DETECTED!]
Shield: [standby]
>[COMP_HARDLIGHT_SHIELD:EN192121:SLAVE_AI] [standby]
Artificial Gravity: [standby]
Life Support: [standby:TEMP_ONLY]
Cryogenics Support: [online]
>[1/6 [CRYOPODS ACTIVE]]
Empyreal Communications Array:[online]
>[EMPYREAL_COMMS: ON_STANDBY][DISCONNECTED]
Main Thruster System:  [standby]
>[0% TOTAL OUTPUT LEVELS]
Living Spaces: [online]

<< <

[King Zultan]

Well shit I had a feeling it might be bad idea to turn that thing back on, oh well guess we need to figure out how to make it like use.

[S1lentWanderer]

Spoiler: ooc (click to show/hide)

Well shit I had a feeling it might be bad idea to turn that thing back on, oh well guess we need to figure out how to make it like use.

Yeah, in hindsight it may have been best to wait to boot it up until after the party, but we opened this can of worms, so we'd better lie in it.

On a more serious note, Broadcast the signal that Mac told you to broadcast on arrival. That might tell the base mainframe that we are expected guests. Or at least convince it that it doesn't need to kill us immediately.

If that doesn't work, try connecting to the mainframe and using your skills/powers to get it to accept you and your crew as valid residents. You've worked with AI's before, maybe this one can be reasoned with. Or threatened. In the worst case scenario, you can tear your way back through the facility to where the core lives, and dismantle it again. Not like the base strictly needed the mainframe to begin with. You've seen for yourself that the doors in this facility cannot restrain someone of your power.

[Eschar]

see or sense what defenses the mainframe can use directly. Turrets? Neurotoxins in the vents? Messing with life support?

[ZBridges]

Spoiler: ooc (click to show/hide)

Well shit I had a feeling it might be bad idea to turn that thing back on, oh well guess we need to figure out how to make it like use.

Yeah, in hindsight it may have been best to wait to boot it up until after the party, but we opened this can of worms, so we'd better lie in it.

On a more serious note, Broadcast the signal that Mac told you to broadcast on arrival. That might tell the base mainframe that we are expected guests. Or at least convince it that it doesn't need to kill us immediately.

If that doesn't work, try connecting to the mainframe and using your skills/powers to get it to accept you and your crew as valid residents. You've worked with AI's before, maybe this one can be reasoned with. Or threatened. In the worst case scenario, you can tear your way back through the facility to where the core lives, and dismantle it again. Not like the base strictly needed the mainframe to begin with. You've seen for yourself that the doors in this facility cannot restrain someone of your power.

see or sense what defenses the mainframe can use directly. Turrets? Neurotoxins in the vents? Messing with life support?

+1 to both of these.

[King Zultan]

Spoiler: ooc (click to show/hide)

Well shit I had a feeling it might be bad idea to turn that thing back on, oh well guess we need to figure out how to make it like use.

Yeah, in hindsight it may have been best to wait to boot it up until after the party, but we opened this can of worms, so we'd better lie in it.

On a more serious note, Broadcast the signal that Mac told you to broadcast on arrival. That might tell the base mainframe that we are expected guests. Or at least convince it that it doesn't need to kill us immediately.

If that doesn't work, try connecting to the mainframe and using your skills/powers to get it to accept you and your crew as valid residents. You've worked with AI's before, maybe this one can be reasoned with. Or threatened. In the worst case scenario, you can tear your way back through the facility to where the core lives, and dismantle it again. Not like the base strictly needed the mainframe to begin with. You've seen for yourself that the doors in this facility cannot restrain someone of your power.

see or sense what defenses the mainframe can use directly. Turrets? Neurotoxins in the vents? Messing with life support?

+1 to both of these.

+1